MY HOMELAND

My homeland
Written by Amir Hossein Nikzad

Winner of Jaleh Esfahani Foundation prize 2010 
Translated from Persian into English: 
Rouhi Shafii

Wish my homeland was a song 
to be recited by heart. 
Wish my homeland was a prayer 
to be memorised and believed in.

They packed the donkeys 
with the morning, the bread and water 
and left.

The cattle lingering on the horizon 
the sun rising from behind. 
A girl in traditional dress, 
not a legend woman 
A lanky boy 
not a brave hero.

The van filled with the sheep 
children running in the wind

A man resting among the alfalfa fields 
a woman’s hand, his bed.

My homeland is life with no interpretation. 
Should her pains be forgotten, 
new tales can be told.

A boy pulls the shutters down 
the chanting of muezzin from the mosque. 
A girl takes her cover off 
and puts her scarf on.

The impatient sheep, 
pushing their bottoms 
against each other. 
The patient, blue van 
waiting with a puncture 
behind the abattoir.

Wish my homeland was a song 
to be recited by heart. 
Wish my homeland was a prayer 
to be memorised and believed in.

30 January 2011